Spider Path - Part 3/5

"They're still not back."

Andy looked up from the book he was reading. "Who's still not back?"1

"The two who went to check out the other settlement for bartering." Portia sat on the bed beside him. "Are you feeling alright?"2

"Fine," he gave her a quick kiss and closed the book. "Just felt like be lazy for a bit." It had been twelve hours since his ‘download’, and his system still felt a little tired. He sat up and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Now, explain this checking out a settlement thing to me."3

She glanced at his over her shoulder. "The settlement where that...female...was from."4

"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah." Andy repositioned himself so one leg was on either side of her and leaned back slightly. "How long ago did they leave?"5

"Nearly three weeks ago." She put her head forward slightly as he began to kiss the back of her neck. "Mmmmmmm," she sighed in appreciation.6

"Five days there, five back," Andy paused his kissing for a moment. "Maybe four days tops for checking things out and maybe doing a little bartering to make things go quicker. Yeah, they're a little late."7

"A search party is scheduled to leave in a few hours."8

"Good idea," he said as he stripped the shirt off her and started to kiss her shoulders. "Although, there are a hundred good reasons why they're late."9

"Are you thinking of going with the group today?"10

"No." He hesitated. "No. I'm going with the 'completely plausible reason' on this one.  I just want to stay here in bed with you. Three weeks is far too long an abstinence from you."11

"Excellent idea," she said as his hands moved up to caress her chest. She brought her own hand up and placed them on his to stop him. "You sure you're ready for this?"12

"I'm fine, rested, my system’s near one hundred percent," he turned her hand over in his and ran a finger along her palm. "And, I'm rather interesting in seeing how my version of an upgrade will integrate with my primary functions."13

"You say such romantic things," she teased and placed his hand back on her breast. "I'm kind of intrigued, too."14

Andy went back to kissing and massaging. "Strip the rest of the way, would you?" he said against her back.15

~~~~~~~~~~~16

Portia jumped in panic as Andy bolted up from the bed and went to the window. He took one look out into the darkness and turned back.17

“Get dressed,” he said as he grabbed for the clothes he had taken off hours earlier.18

“What’s going on?” she asked, trying to get the panic of being suddenly awake out of her breathing. She pulled her pants back on and picked her shirt off the floor.19

“I don’t know,” he admitted, “but there’s a red haze on the horizon, and I smell smoke.”20

“Bonfire?”21

“Not that kind of smoke,” he said as he went to the door. “Meet me at the library.”22

Portia stopped pulling her shirt on and temporarily stared at the door closing. “Yeah, be right there,” she replied to the empty room.23

She made it to the main open space in the community, noticing that a few other people were milling about, looking at the haze in the west sky, and talking amongst themselves. She walked briskly to the library that served as the community’s government office, and entered along with a few others.24

Entering through the open doors of a boardroom, she spotted Andy leaning against a wall, listening to a man speak to a group. She walked up and stood beside him, noticing that he seemed different as he studied the man speaking. Arms crossed over his chest, and a look of concentration on his face, he seemed every inch the university professor looking for faults in a student’s well thought out theory.25

She turned her attention to the man speaking, trying to hear over the whispers of those around her.26

“…took everything we had, then started burning the buildings.” He stopped talking, suddenly realizing that he had a much larger crowd than he original had when he started. “I was sent to get help from a neighboring community, but arrived to pretty much what I had left from. They seem to be hitting various places all over the shoreline.”27

Fear seemed to permeate the crowd and the volume rose at the implications of them having a large community located on the shores of Lake Erie.28

“In the past month,” Andy said, his rich voice carrying over the loud whispers, “have you had an emissary from another community visit in order to barter for goods from their well stock stores?” 29

Silence hit the room as all eyes turned to look at him. He ignored the stares as he leaned against the wall. The noise rose again as the visitor nodded. 30

“Can you place your community on an old map of the lake?” He waited for an affirmative. “And that of the other community?” His eyes flicked to the mayor, who was in serious conversation with people on both sides of her. One of the men got up and left, while the other went to a group and took them off to the side.31

Andy stood from the wall and approached as the man pointed to two spots on a pre-destruction map of the province. He took one look, cataloguing all the information, then walked out of the room, ignoring the voice of the mayor calling him back.32

~~~~~~~~~33

Portia caught up with him on the steps. “Stop.”34

Andy stopped walking, and turned. He looked past her, at the figure of the mayor coming down the steps. 35

“A moment,” the mayor said as she took Andy by the arm as steered him a few feet away. 36

Portia sighed in annoyance, but stayed where she was. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but, if body language was any indication, there was a major disagreement going on. They mayor said something, turned, and walked back into the library, leaving Andy staring after her with an annoyed look on his face. 37

“Well, fuck,” he said loudly, then turned and started towards the direction of their accommodations.38

“What’s gong on?” Portia said as she finally caught up with him.39

“We’re packing and getting the hell out of here, that’s what’s going on.”40

Portia stopped walking. “Whoa, wait, what?” She ran until she got in front of him, and skidded to a stop, forcing him to either walk around her or stop. He chose the second option. 41

“They want to move the stores to the middle of the community,” he said in annoyed disbelief and motioned in the general direction of the library. “It’ll be safer there,” he mocked, then shook his head. “I’m not sticking around for a fucking bloodbath.”42

“What are you talking about?” His attitude was worrying her.43

He stood there in the predawn light, a biting insult on his lips, and took a good look at her. He noticed that she looked tired, which was most likely caused by the late night of love making, and an early morning of being rudely woken. The half-light caught the honey highlights in her long hair, bringing an almost ethereal appearance to her soft features.44

“Andy?’45

He started, wondering why his mind had just wandered there. “I told her that if they want to protect the stores, then hiding them underground would be better. She didn’t agree. And I don’t want us to be around when hell comes.”46

“We can’t just run away.”47

“Watch me.” He turned and started walking again. What the hell are you doing? He asked himself. You don’t run from anything…ever. Tactical sense, yes…it makes tactical sense, but, damn and fuck…these people are the closest thing to family your sorry android ass will ever have, and you owe them…what…for what…they took us in over a year ago, and treated us like we belonged. He stopped walking as he argued with himself, and put his hands behind his head, laced his fingers and brought his elbows up to squeeze lightly against the sides of his head. 48

Portia watched him, amazed at his callous attitude, and wondering why he was standing there, in a pose of human indecision. Although it had been less than a day since his ‘upgrade’, she had already noticed subtle differences in him. He seemed to take charge at certain times, like in the library when he asked the questions, and more certain of himself around others. He used to be a loner of sorts, not wanting to be around others in case they found out what he was. And he seemed more physical, which was something she couldn’t believe possible. His entire being was based on physical attributes, but even those seemed changed. Not that she minded that change, since he had been able to bring her to an intimate level that she had thought completely impossible for any human to achieve. She blushed as her thighs ached to experience it again and again.49

Andy moved his arms back to his sides and started to pace. He ignored everything around him as he continued his internal battle. This has to have something to do with the upgrade…access the programs, learn what to do, how to handle a threat like this…without running like some scared fuck. His mind continued to ramble as he quickly ran through all the government information he had stored in his system. Have to protect Portia…she’ll leave with me…I think…but she’ll never forgive me…I couldn’t live with that…I have to…I don’t know…what…to …do.50

“Fuck!” he yelled in annoyance and ran his hands over his face. Breathing deeply, a technique he a learned had certain calming qualities, even for an android, he turned to Portia. “I have no idea what to fucking do,” he calmly told her.51

Portia shook her head slightly, as she looked into his confused face, once again amazed at how human he could seem at times. “Andy, I can’t…” she stopped talking as he walked up to her, took her face in his hands, and gave her one of the most passionate kisses she had ever received from him. His tongue gently teased hers as her legs grew weak, and she felt heat brewing in certain areas. 52

He had no idea why he had chosen that moment to kiss her. If his system was going renegade on him, he really didn’t care. Fuck everything he thought as he scooped her into his arms and started to carry her to their home. Deal with it later…think about it later…fuck it. And fuck Portia…literally…over and over again until neither of us can think straight.53

~~~~~~~~~~~54

Andy looked at the room they shared and sighed at the mess on the floor. It was a happy sigh though, and he surprised himself by not caring that he shouldn’t actually be sighing happily. The mess was caused by both of them earlier that day when he had carried her back in his arms. They hadn’t even made it to the bed before clothes came half off. Hell, they had barely made it back to their room. He felt like a new pleasure model as he took her multiply on every available surface, her yelling out his name in ecstasy only fueling his desire to pleasure her more and more. 55

When he was sure she couldn’t handle any more, but with her begging him for more, he leisurely moved in and out of her as his hands massaged different points of her body. After both of them were completely soaked with sweat and fluids, he held her in his arms as she drifted off to a well-earned sleep.56

They had never experienced a session like that, even back when she first wanted to experiment having sex with him. It had taken her a few years to constent to let him do what he was designed to do, and at first he thought there was fault with his programming, or with him. She had assured him that it wasn't exactly him that was the reason she remained distant, it was that she didn't want to get close to an android, and then have it taken from her. 57

He didn't understand that, since she was in more basic danger than he was, since she could be killed easier, and needed certain things to remain alive. It took him a while, but his reasoning and respect finally made her give him a try...and they had never looked back. 58

He never understood why androids were seen as different from humans; beyond the obvious reasons of them being machine. He had feelings and emotions… or at lest vast knowledge and programming to react to situations with the emotions. His feelings could be hurt, he could get angry, sad, excite, but he wasn’t sure about the love part. He breathed, but didn’t need to eat. He could be killed, but it took a lot to do that. He didn’t dream, but he could call up memories to play through his system while he recharged.59

He knew that his recent unauthorized, and most likely highly illegal download had something to do with what he was feeling. He felt new, but uneasy at times. He had knowledge that he hadn’t even looked at yet, but knew that it would surface if he ever needed it. He just hoped he would do the right things if that happened. He wasn’t pleased with himself over his indecision earlier and wanting to leave the community. On his own, he would have never considered leaving, but somewhere in him, it must have triggered either a self-preservation idea, or he had seen how hopeless the situation would be, and decided to leave to fight another day.60

He glanced over as he felt the bed move beside him. Portia smiled at him sleepily, her mussed hair creating a charming frame for her face.61

“Do that to me every night for the rest of my life, and I’ll follow you anywhere,” she told him.62

He kissed her gently. “I’m afraid that might wear me out in no time,” he teased. He reached a sudden decision, one he didn’t know he was thinking about until he said it. “I’m going to take one of the horses, and go to the settlements around the lake, see what’s going on. I want you to come with me.”63

She bit her lip as she regarded him. She wasn’t sure what he was looking for, or what he was trying to prove, but seeing the openness on his face, she couldn’t help but agree.64

“Do you promise to fuck me every night until I can’t stand?”65

To her surprise, he laughed, then brought his forehead down to hers. “I promise.”66

“Then, when do you want to get started?”67

“Right after this,” he said as he went under the covers and hoisted her legs over his shoulders.68

She sighed in delight at his tongue. “Take your time,” she moaned.69

~~~~~~~~~~~70

“Have I mentioned I hate horses?”71

“Many times.”72

“Just checking.” 73

Andy laughed to himself as Portia repositioned herself atop the horse. “You ride very well for some one who hates horses.”74

She gave him an artificially sweet smile. “I have lots of practice riding a stallion.”75

“Oh.” He had the gall to look slightly embarrassed, which elicited a laugh from her.76

They had started out shortly after another, as Portia had put it, fuck-feast. Andy had bluntly told the mayor what they were going to do, and had gotten her vague permission to take two horses from the barns and check out the area surrounding their side of the lake. She hadn’t liked the idea of losing two people when the community could be attacked any moment, but had relented at the logic of such a reconnaissance. She had given then provisions, maps, and extra power supplies for their weapons. What Andy didn’t know is that she had taken Portia aside to comment about the change in Andy.77

“I’ve never known him to be this…forceful,” she had said. “I always pictured him as a follower, not a leader.”78

“He’s changed since he was sick,” Portia told her, thinking fast. They had explained his three-week down time to being very sick. “I think it made him re-evaluate a few things.”79

“Earth to Portia.”80

She looked at him. “What?”81

“You’re zoning out on me, sweetie.”82

She gaped at him. “What did you call me?” He had never called her anything but Portia before. She wasn’t even sure if he were capable of names of affection.83

“Sweetie,” he repeated, then stopped, suddenly worried. “Is that alright? I mean, I know it’s affectionate, but I thought, maybe…”84

“Oh, shut up, “ she cut him off. “It’s fine. In fact, I rather like it.”85

“Good.” He pulled on the reigns to stop his chestnut horse. “Maps say that a settlement is over that rise,” he motioned with his head. “My internal GPS agrees.” Instead of starting off again, he stared at the hill in the distance and seemed troubled.86

“Something wrong?” Portia asked.87

"There's no noise."88

"From where?"89

“The settlement.”90

“Maybe they’re just not loud.”91

Andy stared at the ground as his eyes flickered back and forth. "Have you ever known any settlement to be that quiet?"92

~~~~~~~~~~93

They sat in the middle of a burned out settlement, the horses jittery below them. Buildings were leveled, and a few bodies could be seen here and there.94

“This isn’t good.”95

“That’s an understatement,” Portia said as she tried not to look around. This would be the third settlement that was destroyed, and she didn’t want to think of it happening to her own.96

Andy got off his horse and walked to a building. He held his hand out to a blackened mound, then touched it. “It’s cold,” he told her. “This was done before the other two.” He got back onto his horse, and guided it though the ruins of a street. “Hello!” he called out. “Is anyone here?”97

Portia listened as he continued to call, assuring anyone who may be there that they didn’t mean them harm. Her hand itched to have a weapon in it, and she placed it on her gun sheath for comfort.98

Andy rode back to her. “Let’s go,” he said, and guided his horse to a quick trot. “Next settlement is about thirty kilometers this way.” He dug his heels gently into the side of the horse, prompting it into a gallop.99

Portia spurred her horse into action and followed. To her, this was an all too vivid reminder of the destruction handed to the human race by the Sintarie nearly seven years ago. Buildings had burned and the dead had been left in most places to rot in the street or become food for scavengers.100

She had been at a fuel station in the Canadian Rockie Mountains when the attacks happened, driving from the West Coast to Edmonton in Alberta. She could see destruction raining down on the city a few hundred kilometers in front of her, and instead of driving towards it like she wanted, she filled up the tanks of her Jeep, bought two hundred dollars worth of camping supplies, food and water from a terrified and confused clerk, and drove back towards the mountains.101

She stayed in the mountains for weeks, listening to reports on the radio until there were no stations or electricity left to broadcast. She logged into the internet, surprised to find it still functional, and read with growing horror and despair reports about what had happened. She found out that the Earth’s military was gone, and every place with a population of over a thousand had been reduced to rubble. 102

Conspiracy theories took most of the web space, with people writing that the government had gone into a deal with the once friendly Sintarie, only to be stabbed in the back. The satellites that ran the Internet and a few other things were left alone, and she assumed it was so that fear could be spread even further through those that survived.103

Finally needing to find out for herself what was going on, she packed up her belongings, and took the road back to Edmonton. What had been built back up after the Fourth World War fifty years before, now lay in a stagnant mess of burnt buildings and bodies.104

She kept driving, and never looked back.105

Never look back. Portia thought of those words as another settlement that had built itself up again lay in ruins behind them.106

~~~~~~~~~~~~107

They rode in silence until they could see the outline of buildings in the distance. Even from where they were, things looked grim. All it took was another canter though a cold burned out landscape to confirm their suspicions. Four communities that were all situated around a water supply now sat in ruins. 108

Neither spoke a word as they rode through. Andy checked the map he had, and turned the horse towards the next settlement, not wanting to find what he thought he might. He had to admire humanity, though. After all that the universe had thrown at them, they still managed to build themselves back to some sort of civilization. Or, at least some of them had. History was full of those who preyed on others, and he knew that it would until the end of time.109

He had no firsthand knowledge of the destruction that hit mankind before he was activated. All he knew were the images that he saw afterwards. Programmed memories of a vibrant Earth were in direct contrast to what he was ‘born’ into, and at times he wondered what it would have been like to be around before. After WW4, the Earth had reverted to a pre-twenty-third century lifestyle, trying to bring back some semblance of order. It had achieved it, only to have it snatched away again.110

He didn't want anyone to snatch away his lifestyle. There had to be some connection to these attacks, something beyond their location. If, as Leza had said, her community was on the lake, then they had access to the same things all the other places had. That is, if Leza was telling the truth, or even if she was involved. It may have been nothing more than a coincidence that she had visited various communities. He accessed the entire conversation the to of them had had, and assured himself that there was nothing in her demeanor that hinted at trickery. Her heartbeat had been a little fast, but he attributed that to her obvious intent of getting him into bed with her. No, there was nothing in her words, or vocal patterns that pointed to her being part of this.111

Although, he cold be wrong. She could have done this sort of thing so many times in the past that she was well at ease with roping people in for the kill. 112

Suddenly not wanted to go any further, Andy stopped his horse beside some large rocks and climbed off. He sat on one of the rocks and looked at the late afternoon sky. “Why?’113

Portia dismounted and stretched pain away. “Why what?”114

Andy continued to look at some distant point. “Why, after nearly being annihilated, do humans still turn on each other?”115

“You don’t really expect an answer that makes sense, do you?”116

He finally looked at her. “No, I guess not. I’m just thinking out loud.” He smiled tightly. “Nothing in my data banks can give me an answer beyond a bunch of suppositions that are too fucking boring to go through.”117

“Do you want to keep going to the next community?”118

“Yes.” He got up, took the map back out of the saddlebag and looked at it. He drew a few imaginary lines on it with his finger, and sighed. “In the olden days, search engines on computers would send out things called spiders to search and retrieve information that they could use. The server then followed that path back to the source and retrieve that information for anyone asking.”119

“I’m with you so far.” Portia did a few more stretches, sore from time in the saddle.120

“This Leza is like a spider. She’s gathering certain information for some main source, which then sells it out to the highest bidder. They get people to come with goods, then they steal it and kill. If they like what they find, they send their people to the community to take the rest.”121

“Makes sense.”122

He took another glance at the map. “So far, there seems to be a progression to the path that these people are attacking.” He sighed and looked off in the distance. “And our home is straight in that spider path.”123